Electronic device holder for a vehicle seat

Abstract

An electronic device holder includes a mounting surface configured to receive and retain an electronic device. First and second doors are disposed on opposite sides of the mounting surface and are gearingly engaged to one another on a rear side of the mounting surface for synchronized lateral movement between open and closed positions. An actuator is disposed on either the first or second door for actuating the doors to the open position from the closed position. A detent lever is pivotally coupled to either the first or second door and is configured to detent the doors in the open position. A detent release lever is pivotally coupled to the mounting surface, and is configured to release the detent lever such that the doors automatically move from the open position to the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device holder, comprising:
 a mounting surface configured to receive an electronic device; 
 first and second doors disposed at opposite sides of the mounting surface and gearingly engaged to one another on a rear side of the mounting surface for synchronized lateral movement between open and closed positions; and 
 an actuator disposed on one of the first and second doors and moveable to an actuated position for actuating the doors to the open position. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second doors include mounting portions operably coupled to one another by one or more biasing mechanisms, wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms are configured to bias the first and second doors towards the closed position. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device holder of  claim 1 , including:
 a mounting portion disposed on the first door having a rack portion; and 
 a mounting portion disposed on the second door having a rack portion, wherein the rack portions of the first and second doors are operable coupled to a spur gear rotatably mounted on the rear side of the mounting surface. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device holder of  claim 1 , including:
 a mounting portion disposed on the first door having a rack portion; and 
 a mounting portion disposed on the second door having a upper and lower rack portions, wherein the rack portion of the first door and the lower rack portion of the second door are operable coupled to a spur gear rotatably mounted on the rear side of the mounting surface, and further wherein the upper rack portion of the second door is operably coupled to a damper mechanism rotatably mounted on the rear side of the mounting surface. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device holder of  claim 1 , including:
 a detent lever pivotally coupled to one of the first and second doors between at-rest and actuated positions, wherein the detent lever is configured to retain the first and second doors in the open position when moved to the actuated position. 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic device holder of  claim 5 , wherein the detent lever is engaged with a retention feature disposed on the rear side of the mounting surface when in the actuated position to retain the first and second doors in the open position. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device holder of  claim 5 , including:
 a detent release lever pivotally coupled to the mounting surface between a release position and an extended position, wherein the detent release lever is configured to urge the detent lever from the actuated position to the at-rest position when the detent release lever is in the release position, thereby releasing the first and second doors for movement from the open position to the closed position. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device holder of  claim 7 , wherein the detent release lever is configured to move from the extended position to the release position as the electronic device is received in an upright position on the mounting surface. 
     
     
       9. An electronic device holder, comprising:
 first and second doors slideably coupled to a mounting surface between open and closed positions; 
 a detent lever pivotally coupled to one of the first and second doors and configured to retain the doors in the open position; 
 a detent release lever pivotally coupled to the mounting surface, wherein the detent release lever is configured to release the doors from the open position for movement to the closed position; and 
 an ejector pin mounted on the mounting surface, the ejector pin having a retractable plunger, wherein the retractable plunger urges the electronic device from an upright retained position to a forward tilt position when the first and second doors are moved to the open position. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device holder of  claim 9 , wherein the detent lever is operable between at-rest and actuated positions and includes an abutment portion. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device holder of  claim 10 , wherein the abutment portion of the detent lever is configured to engage a retention feature disposed on a rear side of the mounting surface when the detent lever is in the actuated position. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device holder of  claim 11 , including:
 a cammed surface disposed on the detent lever; and 
 a cammed surface disposed on the detent release lever, wherein the cammed surface of the detent lever and the cammed surface of the detent release lever are configured to engage one another as the detent lever moves to the actuated position, thereby urging the detent release lever from a release position towards an extended position. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device holder of  claim 12 , including:
 a lower frame member extending outwardly from the mounting surface and configured to support the electronic device in the forward tilt position. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device holder of  claim 12 , wherein the detent release lever is moved from the extended position to the release position as the electronic device is moved from the forward tilt position to the upright position. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device holder of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second doors are operably coupled to one another and configured for synchronized lateral movement between the open and closed positions, and further wherein the first and second doors are configured to automatically move to the closed position when the detent release lever is in the release position.